Study of Salmonella typhimurium mutagenicity assay of (E)-piplartine by the Ames test

Phytochemical studies carried out with Piperaceae species have shown great diversity of secondary metabolites among which are several displayed considerable biological activities. The species Piper tuberculatum has been intensively investigated and a series of amides have been described. For instance, (E)-piplartine showed significant cytotoxic activity against tumor cell lines, especially human leukemia cell lines; antifungal activity against Cladosporium species; trypanocidal activity and others. Considering the popular use of P. tuberculatum and the lack of pharmacological studies regarding this plant species, the mutagenic and antimutagenic effect of (E)-piplartine was evaluated by the Ames test, using the strains TA97a, TA98, TA100 and TA102 of Salmonella typhimurium. No mutagenic activity was observed for this compound.Key words: Piperaceae, Piper tuberculatum, (Z)-piplartine, mutagenic activated, Ames test

Pseudocercospora piperis associated with leaf spots on Piper aduncum in Brazil

Piper aduncum (Piperaceae) is a neotropical plant that has been widely exploited as a medicinal plant in its native range but has recently become an important invasive plant species in Papua New Guinea. A cercosporoid fungus was recently found associated with leaf spots on this plant in the Amazon. The morphology of the fungus is typical of Pseudocercospora piperis, a fungus that has never been recorded on this host species in Brazil. © 2013 Australasian Plant Pathology Society Inc